Combined hood top and radiator shell for automobiles and the like



July 25, 1933. E, |RELAND 1,919,656

COMBINED HOOD TOP AND RADIATOR SHELL FOR AUTOMOBILES AND THE LIKE Filed May 16. 1932 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

July 25, IRELAND O 1,919,656

COMBINED HOOD TOP AND RADIATOR SHELL FOR AUTOMOBILES AND THE LIKE Filed May 16, 1932 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. GEORGE E, //?ELA ND.

ATTORNEY.

. July 25, 1933.

G. E. IRELAND COMBINED HOOD TOP AND RADIATOR SHELL FOR AUTOMOBILES AND THE LIKE Filed May 16, 1932 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 IN VEN TOR. 62 01765 6 //?ELANO.

BY m

ATTORNEY.

G. E. IRELAND July 25, 1933.

COMBINED HOOD TOP AND RADIATOR SHELL FOR AUTOMOBILES AND THE LIKE Fiied May 16, 1952 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. GEORGE E. /F:ELAND.

ATTORNEY.

' July 25, 1933. a. IRELAND 1,919,656

COMBINED HOOD TOP AND RADIATOR SHELL FOR AUTOMOBILES AND :I'HE LIKE Filed May 16, 1932 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 a. w. i 17 Fi .Z 5.

GEORGE E. lRELAND.

INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented July 25, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GEORGE E. IRELAND, OF TOLEDO, OHIO; EDITH MAY IRELAND AND DWIGHT B. IRELAND EXEOUTORS OF SAID GEORGE E. IRELAND, DECEASED COMBINED HOOD TOP AND RADIATOR SHELL FOR AUTOMOBILES AND THE Application filed na 'is,

This inventionrelates to a combined hood top and radiator shell for automobiles and the like, and the method of producing the same. 7

One object of the invention is to provide a hood havin a. one piece top and having openings in the side thereof to permit access to be had to the interior-of the hood, which openings are closed by a bodily removable side member or closure.

A further object of the invention is to provide a hood having a hood top and the upper portion of the radiator shell formed in one piece.

.A further object of the invention is to provide such a structure, in which the lower portion of the radiator shell and the splash I guard or apron will be formed in one piece. A further object of the invention is to provide a simple and eflicient method of producing the two parts of the structure each in a single piece.

A further object of the invention is to provide a removable closure for the side opening of the hood which will be of an improved construction to provide the necessar ventilating openings in the closure.

(d ther objects of the invention will appear as the device is described in detail.

In the accompanying drawings Fig. 1 is a plan view of a portion of a sheet of metal from which the blanks for the one hood top and upper portion of the'radlator shell are cut, showing the arrangement of the blanks thereon; view of a blank after a preliminary bending operation; Fig. 3 is an inverted view of a partially formed blank; Fig. 3: is a section taken on the line 3a-3a of Fig. 3; Fig. 4 is an inverted view of the partially formed blank after it has been trimmed; Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the finished hood top having the upper portion of the radiator shell integral therewith; Fig. 6 is a section taken on the line 66 of Fig.5; Fi 7 is a section. taken on'the line 7-7 of ig. 5; Fig. 8 is a section taken on the line 88 of Fig. 5; Fig. 9 is a plan view of a sheet of metal from which the blanks for the one piece splash guard and lower portion of piece I ig. 2 is an inverted 1932. Serial No. 611,601.

the radiator shell are out showinlgthe ar-' rangement of the blanks thereon; g. 10 is a detail view of the blank after a preliminary bending operation; Fig. 11 is a perspective view' of the blank as finally formed to provide the lower portion of the radiator shell and the splash guard; Fi 12 is a section taken on the line 12-12 of ig. 11; Fig.'

13 is a section taken on the line 1313 of Fig. 11; Fig. 14 is a section taken on the line 14- 14 of Fig. 11; Fig. 15 is a perspective view 1s a sectional detail view of one o the fastoning devices for the closure taken on the line 19-19 of Fig. 15;-and Fig. 20 is a de-' tail view of another fastening device for the closure taken on the line 2020 of Fig. 16. I t I In these drawings I have illustrated one embodiment of .my invention and have shown the parts as designed for a particular type of hood and radiator shell but it will be understood that the parts may take various shapes and may be designed to accommodate the same to oods and radiator shells of different types. i

In that particular embodiment of the invention which is here illustrated and which is shown in assembled form in Fig. 15, the

hood top 21 is formed from a single piece of 1 metal and extends for the full width of the upper portion of the hood. At its forward end this one piece hood is provided with downwardly extending arms 22 and the forward end as a whole is shaped to'receive the upper part of a radiator and thus constitutes the upper portion of the radiator shell. The lower portion of the radiator shell is shown at 23 and has formed integral therewith a forwardly extending apron or splash guard 24, the two parts of the radiator shell being rigidly connected oneto; the other and preferably arranged in interlocking or overlapping relation. The lower side members of the hood are here shown as relatively narrow panels 25 secured to the frame of the automobile body and having their forward portions extending upwardly to approximately the upper end of the lower portion of the radiator shell, and having their upper edges sloped rearwardly and downwardly to points near the frame. The spaces between the lateral edges of the one piece top and the respective side members constitute the side openings of the hood through which access may be had to the interior of the hood for servicing the mechanism enclosed thereby. These openings are normally closed by bodily removable closures such as is shown in Fig. 16.

In producing the one piece hood top and upper portion of the radiator shell I cut from the sheet of metal 26, as shown in Fig. 1, a blank having a body portion 27 and laterally extending end portions or arms 28. The particular hood here illustrated is of such a type that the lateral edges of the body portion 27 of the blank converge forwardly and the front and rear edges of the laterally extending arms converge slightly in an outward direction. It will be noted that the blank is of such a character that a plurality of these blanks may be cut from a sheet of metal with but little waste material.

The blank is first bent about a longitudinal axis to cause the lateral edge portions of the body and the laterally extending arms to project downwardly, as shown in inverted position in Fig.2. This bent blank is then subjected to the action of suitable forming devices, such as forming dies of a well known type, which impart to the body of the blank the final shape of the hood top and which draw the laterally extending end portions or arms outwardly to form therein inwardly facing channels 29. The forward end of the body of the blank is also bent downwardly, as shown at 30 in Fig. 3, and this downwardly bent portion and the forward walls of the channeled arms form a continuous flange. The edge portions of the blank, which are gripped by the forming devices during the drawing operation, form a flange 31 extending entirely about the partially formed blank. The blank is now trimmed to remove the flange 31 and also to remove the rear walls 32 of the channel shaped arms, thus imparting to the partially formed blank the shape shown in Fig. 4, in which the arms 28 are substantiall L- shaped in cross section. This partlally formed blank is now subjected to the action of the other forming devices which impart thereto its final form, as shown in Fig. 5. As there shown, the lateral edges of the hood top or body of the blank are bent inwardly to form horizontal flanges 33 and the rear edges of the arms 28 are bent inwardly to form vertical flanges 34. The front walls of the arms 28 have been drawn forwardly to provide the same with rearwardly opening channels 35, and thus the outward surfaces of these arms are given a curved contour in cross section, as shown in Fig. 7. The structure thus formed has in its forward end a vertical recess, substantially U-sha ed and adapted to receive the upper part 0 a radiator. wardly offset continuous flange 35a which positions the radiator therein. If desired, the forward end of the body 28 of the blank, which now forms the top of the radiator shell, may be provided with an opening 36 through which the filling tube for the radiator may extend.

The lower portion 23 of the radiator shell and the splash guard 24 are formed from a single sheet of metal struck from a sheet of metal 37, as shown in Fig. 9. This blank comprises a body portion 38 having at one end thereof two longitudinally extending arms 39 which are spaced one from the other. It will be noted that this blank also is of such a character that a number of blanks may be struck from a sheet of metal with very little waste of material. In the forming of the blank it is first bent about a transverse axis, as shown in Fig. 10, to cause the outer end of the body portion 38 thereof. to project at an angle to the arms 39. This blank is then subjected to the action of forming devices, such as forming dies, to impart thereto the shape shown in Fig. 11. As there shown, the forming devices bend the lateral edges of the blank throughout its length to form flanges 40 and the outer end of the lower portion of the body 38, which forms the splash guard, is rolled as shown at 41. The arms 39 and the adjacent portion of the body 38 are pressed outwardly to provide a continuous channel 42. The inner wall of this channel is turned inwardly to form a flange 43. The structure is thus provided with a substantially U-shaped recess which is shaped to receive the lower part of the radiator, the flange 43 serving to position the radiator therein. The upper ends of the two upwardly extending parts or arms 39 of the lower portion of the radiator shell may be secured to the downwardly extending parts or arms 28 of the upper portion of the radiator shell in any suitable manner and, in the present instance, the lower ends of the channels in the arms 28 are adapted to receive the upper ends of the channels in the arms 39 so that the two parts of the shell telescope one into the other and they may be retained in this overlapping arrangement in any suitable manner, as by shoulders on the lower arms.

This recess is provided with a rear-- vertical edge.

The hood top ma be secured to the cowl,

which forms part 0 the automobile body, in any suitable manner. In the present. construction, a part ofthe cowl is shown at and is provided with a flange 45 along its This flange and the flanges 33 and 34 of the hood top constitute the upper and end walls of the side opening in the hood. The lower wall of this side opening is at the upper edge of the side member 25 which is provided with an inwardly extending flange 46, as shown in Fig. 19. In the present instance, the automobile is provided with a fender 47 ofv special construction, which forms the subject matter of a separate application for patent, and this fender has a portion which rests upon and is secured to the flange 46 of the side member 25. This, however, is not essential. Fitted within this side opening is a removable closure such as that shown in Fig. 16. This closure" comprises a frame 48 which fits snugly within the walls of the side opening in the hood and may be removably secured therein in any suitable manner. I prefer, however, to secure the closure by means of yieldable detents so that it can be inserted andremoved by merely applying pressure thereto, by means of handles 49. In the present construction, I have mounted on the side member 25 a detent or plunger 50 which extends through an opening 51 in the flange 46, and, in the present instance, through the portion of the fender 47 which rests upon that flange, and is actuated by a spring 52 which is supported on a bracket 53 secured to the side member. The upper end of this plunger is rounded and is adapted to enter a curved recess 54v in the lower edge of the closure frame 48, this recess being so shaped that a pull or push on the closure will cause the plunger to be depressed and permit the edge of the frame to pass the same. The upper edge of the frame is provided with a similar yieldable detent but in this instance the detent, 55, is carried by the frame of the closure, which is provided with a bracket 56 to support the same. This detent or plunger. extends through an opening in the edge wall of the closure and is adapted to enter a curved recess 57 in the flange 33 of the hood top 21.

The closure is provided with openings to permit the escape of heated air from the interior of the hood and these openings may be formed in any suitable manner. The closure here shown is of a special construction which provides a very eflicient yet inexpensive series of ventilating openings. The intermediate portion of the closure, within the frame 48, is filled by a grille which comprises a series of bars or strips of metal 58 each of which is connected at its upper and lower ends with the res ective sides of the closure frame. Each 0 these opposite directions from the center line of the strip, so that each strip is of zigzag formation. The strips are so arranged thata forwardly extending portion of one strip will abut against a rearwardly extending portion of an adjacent strip, to which it may be secured in any suitable manner. I prefer, however, that the contacting parts of adjacent stripsshould have interlocking parts and, as here shown, the rearwardly curved parts of each strip are provided with recesses 59 and the forwardly curved parts of these strips are provided with projections 60 adapted to enter the corresponding recesses 59 in the adjacent strips. I Preferably each curved portion of each strip has 9. art thereof pressed forwardly, as shown in ig. 18, so as to form a recess in one side thereof and a projectionon the other side thereof and the projections on the forwardly extending curved portions of the strips enter the recesses in the rearwardly curved portions of adjacent strips. The projections may be secured in the recesses in any suitable manner, 1 as by sweating the same with solder.

While I have shown and described one embodiment of my invention I wish it to be understood that I 'do not desire to be limited to the details thereof as various modifications may occur to a person skilled in the art.

Having now fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1.-Inan automobile. or the like, a combined hood and radiator shell comprising a one piece top "for the hood, and a radiator shell having an upper portion formed integral with the hood top and a lower portion formed separate from said upper portion and secured thereto. I

2. In an automobile or the like, a combined hood and radiator shell comprising-a one piece top for the hood extending for the full width of the upper portion of the hood andhaving at its forward end downwardly extending parts, the forward portion of said hood, including saiddownwardly extending parts, being shapedto form the upper portion of a radiator shell, said radiator shell comprising a separate lower portion having upwardly extending parts overlapping and secured to the respective downwardly extending parts of the upper portion thereof.

3. In an automobile or the like, a combined hood and radiator shell comprisi a one piece top for the hood having its rward end portion turned downwardly and provided with a substantially U-shaped recess and shaped to form the upper portion comprising a lower portion formed in one piece and having a substantially U-shaped recess opposed to the recess in the upper portion of said radiator shell, the two portions ofsaid shell being connectedoneto the other.

4. In an automobile or the like, a combined hood and radiator shell comprisin a one piece top for thehood having its orward end portion turned downwardly and provided with a substantially U-shaped recess and shaped to form the upper portion of a radiator shell, said radiator shell comprising a separate lower portion having upwardly extending parts, the downwardly extending arts of the upper portion of said shell and the upwardly extending parts of the lower portion of said shell being channel-shaped in cross section and the respective channel-shaped parts having telescoping connection one with the other.

5. In a combined hood top, radiator shell.

and splash guard for an automobile or the like, an upper section comprising a single piece of sheet metal shaped to form both a top for the hood and the upper portion of the radiator shell, and a lower section comprising a single piece of sheet metal shaped to form the lower portion of the radiator shell and having a forwardly extending integral portion constituting a splash guard. 6. In a combined hood top, radiator shell and splash guard for an automobile or the like, an upper section comprising a one piece top for the hood having its forward end provided with integral downwardly extending members shaped to form the upper portion of a radiator shell, and a lower section comprising a one piece upright part having upwardly extending members and shaped to form the lower portion of said radiator shell and also having a forwardly extending portion integral with said upright portion and shaped to form a splash guard.

7. In an automobile or the like, a hood comprising a one piece top having its lateral ed e portions turned downwardly and provided with inwardly extending flanges, and lower side members spaced from the respective lateral edges of said top and provided at their upper edges with inwardly extending flanges, closures mounted between the upper and lower flanges on the respective sides of said hood, and means for removably securing said closures to said hood.

8. In an automobile or the like, a hood comprising a one piece top having its lateral edge portions turned downwardly and provided at its forward end with arts extending downwardly beyond the ateral edges of said top, said forward end of said top being shaped to form the upper portion of a radiator shell, lower side members'spaced from the respective lateral edges of said top and having their upper edges sloped rearwardly and downwardly from points adjacent to the lower ends of said downwardly extending parts, and closures mounted between said lower side members and the respective lateral edges of said top, and removable bodily therefrom.

9. In an automobile or the like, a hood having a one piece top and having an opening in the side thereof, a closure for said opening. comprising a frame mounted in said opening, and a plurality of strips of metal each connected at its ends with opposite sides of said frame andhaving alternate portions extending in opposite directions from the center line of said strip, said strips being so arranged that oppositely extending portions of adjacent strips will contact one with the other.

10. In an automobile or the like, a hood having a one piece top and having an opening in the side thereof, a closure for said opening comprising a frame mounted in said opening, and a plurality of strips of metal each connected at its ends with opposite sides of 'said frame and having alternate portions extending in opposite directions from the center line of said strip, said strips being so arranged that oppositely extending portions of adjacent'strips will contact one with the other, said contacting portions having interlocking parts to connect said strips one to the other.

11. In an automobile or the like, a hood having a one piece top and having an opening in the side thereof, a closure for said opening comprising a frame mounted in said opening, and a plurality of strips of metal each connected at its ends with opposite sides of said frame and having alternate portions bent forwardly and rearwardly respectively, said strips being so arranged that a forwardly extending portion of one strip will be adjacent to a rearwardly extending portion of another strip, one of said adjacent portions having a recess and the other of said adjacent portions having a projection. to enter said recess.

GEORGE E. IRELAND. 

